Job Description

We are recruiting on behalf of one of our clients, a global leader in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, currently undergoing a bold transformation of its operations model. This is a unique opportunity to join a high-impact team driving innovation and execution excellence across thousands of restaurants worldwide.

About the Opportunity

Our client is redefining operational performance by placing innovation, simplicity, and scalability at the heart of its strategy. As Senior Manager, Operations Innovation & Effectiveness , you will play a pivotal role in transforming ideas into operational realities—bridging the gap between culinary innovation, equipment development, and frontline execution.

In this role, you will lead initiatives that bring new products and processes to market with speed, clarity, and efficiency. You will be at the crossroads of strategy and operations, working closely with culinary, testing, equipment, and field teams to ensure every innovation enhances restaurant performance, team experience, and franchisee profitability.

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone with a sharp operational mindset, deep field experience, and a passion for continuous improvement.

Core Responsibilities

1. Operationalizing Innovation

• Act as the key link between Culinary Innovation, Operations Testing, and Field Execution to validate feasibility and impact of new products and processes.
• Develop and oversee rigorous in-store testing protocols for new menu items, equipment, and tools.
• Translate innovation concepts into simple, consistent, and scalable store-level practices.
• Anticipate and resolve operational friction points before market rollouts.

2. Equipment and Smallwares Strategy

• Support trials and implementation of kitchen technologies to boost productivity and maintain food integrity.
• Optimize speed oven programming and other systems through testing data and insights.

3. Operational Efficiency and Continuous Improvement

• Simulate restaurant workflows to assess new procedures and provide actionable improvements.
• Monitor post-launch KPIs such as throughput, execution time, and waste to drive iteration and performance.
• Collaborate with field teams to implement enhancements that reduce complexity and elevate team experience.
• Drive simplification and cost efficiency initiatives that strengthen unit economics and franchisee margins.

4. Stakeholder Management and Collaboration

• Partner with cross-functional teams across Operations, Tech, QA, Culinary, Training, Digital, and Legal.
• Maintain strong relationships with vendors and field operators.
• Ensure alignment with franchisee councils and support global consistency in execution and tools.

5. Execution Readiness

• Co-develop clear, scalable communication and training materials for all field innovations.
• Lead updates to global and regional operations manuals and content repositories.
• Ensure readiness of all systems, processes, and teams ahead of major rollouts.

Profile Sought

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in QSR, retail, or food service, with a strong track record in field operations, testing, and execution excellence.
• Proven experience leading large-scale operational transformation projects in multi-unit, franchise-based organizations.
• Strong understanding of restaurant workflows, equipment performance, and frontline challenges.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Financial acumen and ability to manage project budgets and ROI considerations.
• Strong written, visual, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint).
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

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